UK: Four members of the same family believed to have died in fatal Somerset plane crash

A Piper 'Malibu Mirage' came down in Somerset on the way to Dunkeswell AerodromeWikipedia Commons

Four people killed in a plane crash in Somerset on Saturday (14 November) are believed to be from the same family, police have said. They died when the 'Malibu Mirage' light aircraft they were travelling in crashed into a field near the village of Churchinford just before 11.45am.

The six-seater aircraft was heading from the Surrey area towards the Dunkeswell Aerodrome in east Devon, which is home to a popular flying school. The family is believed to be from Surrey and included two men, aged 56 and 20, and two women, aged 55 and 23.

The plane was just seven minutes, and roughly five miles (8Km), from the aerodrome when it came down - and the cause of the planes plummet is not yet known. Officers from the Avon and Somerset constabulary attended the scene, along with crews from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service and South Western Ambulance Service.

Supt Richard Corrigan from Avon and Somerset police said: "We have a specially-trained family liaison officer supporting the affected family and they're being kept fully updated on our progress. Our thoughts are with them at this extremely difficult time.

"A joint investigation is under way with the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB). The focus of the activity will be investigative enquiries and then recovery of the aircraft. Road closures remain in place around the crash site."

The Exeter-based Devon Air Ambulance and the National Police Air Service helicopter also attended. A formal identification of the deceased is yet to take place.

The wreckage of the aircraft appeared to show one of the wings ripped away from the fuselage of the plane and the cockpit and tail have also came apart from the rest of the aircraft.

Dave Manning, who lives at Higher Southey farm in Churchinford, said the plane came down on his land. He said to the BBC: "Our next door neighbour came in and said a plane had come down. Then we went out and looked and there was basically nothing we could do."

The Malibu Mirage, made by Piper, is the only current production pressurized piston-engine aircraft available today. It is designed to cruise at altitudes up to 25,000 ft.